Flap-turning mechanism



May 14, 1929. .1. G. SWAB I '1,713;243

FLAP TURNING MECHANISM Filed May 16, 1925 I awuemtoz JAY 6'. SWAB ziww Patented May 14, 1929.

1 UNITED STATES JAYG. SWAB, or BROOKLYN,

PATE T OFFICE.

NEW YORK, ssIGNoR TO H NRY. TRENCHARD, an, or

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. *1

FLAP TURLfiNG MECHANISM.

Application filed May 1 6,

The present invention relates to machines for making envelopes and more especially to envelope machines of the so-called rotary t pen I Rotary envelope machines commonly deliver the finished-envelopes with thetop or closing flap in open relation. While many envelopes are shipped to the tradein this condition, there is also a demand for en velopes with the flaps folded to closed position in cases where convenience'of packing or other considerations 1 make such folded envelopes desirable.

It is common practice to fold the en-- F velope flaps by hand with the attendant expense when folded envelopes are required.

The present invention has for an object to provide means'for automatically folding the flap of the envelope to closed position before delivering the BIIVBlOPGZEl'ODl the machine. Afurther object is to provide means whereby the closing flap of the envelope may be either creased only or creased and folded before'delivery from the machine as desired. I

A further object is to provide means whereby an envelope havinga closing'flap [and a foldable locking tongue'can be delivered with the flap and locking tongue both folded. and the locking tongue secured in folded relation.

i The nature and objects of the invention will be better understood from a description of an illustrative embodiment thereof for the purposes of which description reference rangement of pads for applying adhesive to the papcrtongue of an envelope of the type having a folded locking tongue.

Figure 3 is a detailed view for the actusting mechanism which controls the gummer 35.

Figure 4; is a detail View of the gearing for driving one set of gripping'and creasing rolls.

'The mechanism shown s intended to form a part of an envelope making machlne which mechanism receives the envelope after 1923. SerialNt. 639,279.

the side wings have been folded into 'overlapping relation and pasted together. The envelope in this condition passes bottomfirst between thefeed rolls 5 to the gripping roll 6 and creasing roll. 7 where :the-

bottom flap is foldedto form the, bottom of the envelope. As the forward end of a the flap passes between these rolls'adhesive such as gum is appliedthereto by a gumming pad 8 carried in-thecreasing roll'7. The creasing blade 9 cooperates with the gripping member 10 to grip the envelope on a transverse line between the flap and the body oflthe envelope and continues'to grip said envelope on thisline as it passes forward. As the flap'passes fromv between the two. rolls itis folded part way back by the action of'the gripping member and is then engaged by the ends 11 of guides 12 which together with thejpres sing roll 15 operate to fold. the flapfagainst the body of the envelope and secure it thereto to form the bottomof the envelope. The envelope 7 thus formed passes between theskid 16 and the guide wires 12 which latter extend 18, by which it is carried over a skid 20 and between the-gripping roll 21 and creasing roll 22 where the gripper 23 cooperates with the'blade 24: to crease and grip the envelope t on a transverse line between the body of the envelope and the closing or top fflap thereo If it is desiredto deliver theienve lopes withthis flap open the envelope is carried along on the face of the creasing roll 21 v and between it and the pressing rollfl25 wvhich in'this case serves merely as a feed roll and from between these two rolls "the envelope? is delivered to a belt conveyor mechanism 26 of usual type. In order to insure the passage of the envelope to engaging.

po sitionbetween the gripping roll 21 and the pressing roll 25,.a" guide 27 is suitably positioned between the creasing roll and the pressing roll substantiallyparallel to the gripping roll 21.

hen it is'desired to fold the top or closing flapsof the envelopes before delivery from the machine, the guide 27 is adjusted. to inoperative position and the bottom'of the envelope is allowed to pass from between i the gripping roll 21 and the creasing roll 22 awayfrom the face of the-gripping roll through annular recesses in the press ng roll 1 15 passing forward to the feeding rolls 18,

while the gripper 23 is actuatedto retain its grip upon the envelope between the body thereof and the closing flap until said gripper passes into engagement with the pres the action of the )ressing roll .25 bein to complete this folding operation. The envelope is then delivered to the belt conveyor 26 infolded condition with the flap folded against the body thereof.

In the arrangement shown the envelope would ordinarily, if engaged by no guides,

pass above thepressing roll due to the direction of its travel between the gripping and creasing rolls and its own stiffness. However, in order to insure the passage of the forward end of the envelope outwardly, away from the grippingroll 21 so that it will not .be engaged by th pressing roll, I

prefer to provide guiding means arranged to engage the forwarder bottom end of the envelope as it passes from between the creasing and gripping rolls. In the preferred arrangement illustrated this guiding means movable. It may conveniently consist of a guide pivotally mounted concentrically with the creasing roll 22 and adjustable to inoperative position when not to be used.

Such aguide member may be cam actuated to move to position closely adjacent the grip- .ping roll 21 to receive the forward end of the envelope as itpasses between'the rolls and to be then retractediat substantially the peripheral speed of the gripping and creasing rolls until the forward end of the envclopeihas been carried upward to a position to be received by a guide 32 at which time if desired the guide may be quickly retracted to permit the forward end of the envelope to drop on to the said guide'32.

The guide 30 is controlled in its annular movement b a link 81 which is formed as ayolre contro ling the shaft This yoke carries a cam pin 31 which engages a cam groove 34 insuring properly timed oscillation of the guide. As the gripping roll con-' tinues its rotation with the envelope securely held by the gripper 23, it is carried between the gripping roll 21 and the pressing roll 25in a manner to reverse. the body of the envelope end for end, folding the envelope body back against the flap thereof.

' Obviously is is not essential that the guide 30 should be retracted in a manner to entirely free the end of the envelope, nor is it essential that such a guide be provided for the arrangement of the rolls maybe such that the envelope due to its inherent stiffness will pass sufficiently far from the gripping roll 21 before engagement with the pressing roll to avoid being drawn into the space therehetween, The guides 32 may of course be extended to engage the envelope when so passing forward if the guide 30 is omitted.

The apparatus shown furthermore particularly advantageous in the manufacture of a folded tongue envelope in which closure is effected by means of a flap having a perforatioii which registers with a perforation in the body of the envelope, the flap being locked in envelope-closingposition bymcans of a tongue passing through the perforations and in which the locking tongue consists of a length of paper folded on-itself. An envelope of this general character is shown in the patent to Trenchard 1,171,006 dated February 8, 1916, but in said patent a separate reinforcei'nent is provided instead of folding a long tongue formed as an integral part of the blank, For the purpose of applying adhesive upon such an envelope tongue I provide on the creasing roll 7, an adjustable paper tongue gummcr In the arrangement shown for the purpose of illustration the gumnier comprises pads 36 carried on a radially 'niovable plunger 37 carried by a hub38 which adjustable around the shaft of the creasing roll 7. The gumming pads are arranged to receive gum from a roll 40. For this purpose means is provided for moving the gum pads radially outward a suthcient distance to 'reach said gum roll 4L0 at a predetermined point during the rotation of the creasing roll 7. They are also so controlled as to be proj ected into engagement with the envelope as it passes between the creasing and gripping rolls but during the remainder of the rotation these pads may be retracted so as to lie inside .of the exterior face of the roll if desired. In the arrangement shown a cam 42 is rotatably mounted on the hub 38 to permit a limited rotative movement. This cam. is provided with a cam slot at in which a pin 45 proyecting from the guinmer 37 is engaged. The periphery of the cam 42 is provided with gear teeth which mesh ith a pinion 46 on a rock shaft 47. The outer end of the rock shaft 47 arries an arm 48 having a roller ,elfiengaging the stationary cam 50 securedto the machine frame concentric with the shaft 39. 48 is normally secured to the rock shaft 47 by means of a set screw 51. lVhen is de sired to readjust the position of the gummcr, the set screw 51 is backed off and a set screw 52 holding the hub 38 to its shaft is released. The hub 38 is then rotated to desired position. This causes rotation of the pinion 46 and shaft 47. When the desired position is obtained the set screws are again tightened The control arm to hold the hub 38 to its shaft to secure the g'umnicr in desired position and to secure the control arm. 48 to the rocksha'ft 47 to again render operative the cam control of the cam ll'and the radial movement of the gummer." f 1 1 \Vhcn folded tongue envelopes of the type above mentioned are to bemade in the ap-' paratus illustrated,"the several upper feed rolls and the creasing roll 22' are recessed centrally to avoid interference wlth' the gum applied to the tongue bythe tongue gummer 35. The gum will be applied to the envelope as it passes beneath the creasing roll 7 and the tongue, lying inside of the closing flap, will obviously be folded by the pressing roll 25 and cooperating creasing roll 21 When'and as the'flap is folded. The adhesive will secure the two folded parts of the tongue. It is contemplated that envelopesiof "this, type will bedelivered with the flapsfolded, v

The arrangement whereby the bottomflap is creased by one set of rolls and the top flapby another separate set of rolls makes provisionfor a simple method ofadjustment for making. envelopes of different lengths.

this arrangement the gripping and creasingrolls 6 and 7 maybe geared together to rotatein suitable timed relation relative to each other and the gripping and creasing rolls 21,22 may also be geared together to I operate in suitable timed relation relative to each othereeach pair of rolls thus constitut ing a unit. lVhen it is desired to ad ust the machine to make envelopes of different lengths the gearing driving-one set of rolls is disconnected and this unit is-advanced or; retarded asdesired, after which the gearing is again connected. For example a driving gear 56 through which one unit is driven may be loosened from its shaft, the unit ad-,

'usted and. the ear a ain secured to its 1 z: e

shaft by loosening the set screw 57. Provision for adjustmentof both units obviously may be made if desired. Such adjustn'ient is made without disturbing the timing of the elements of the unit itself so that the necessarytimed relation between the gripping and creasing rolls is maintained. This arrangement provides a particularly simple.

and efficient method of making the adjustment I I The foregoing description. of a selected embodiment is illustrative merely and is not intended as defining the limits of the in? vention. I I

Lolaim: r p V 1.. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a gripping roll, a creasing roll and a folding roll cooperating with said gripping roll at spaced points on its periphery, the gripping and creasing rolls being arranged to crease an envelope blank 'at its open end between the closing .fiap

liver the envelope with, the flap folded.

and body thereof as it passes between the rolls, the gripping rolls being arranged to grip the fold, the several rolls-being so positioned and arranged that th e body of the envelope will be'deflected away from the gripper roll between the creasing roll and the folding, roll and will be folded back againstthe flap by the folding roll to cle- 2. In apparatus of the character described, 1n combination, agripplng roll, a creasing 'roll and a folding roll cooperating with said,

gripping roll atspaced points on its pe-. riphery, and guide means between'the 'c'reas ing roll andthe folding roll adjustable to guide an envelope along the gripping roll so that it passes from between the creasing and gripping rollsalong the'face of the gripping roll and between itand the folding or pressing roll and alternatively ad- 'justable to guide the forward end of the envelope outward from the surface of the gripping roll and into the space between the creasingroll and folding'or pressing roll.

.3. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a gripping roll, a' creasing roll cooperating therewith toi cause a creasing of an envelope between the "flap and. body thereof,a pressing roll cooperat ing with said gripping roll beyond said creasingroll, a'guide pivotally supported above the axis of said creasing roll, and

means foractuatingsaid guide to advance f it to a point adjacentythe gripping roll to engage anenvelope advancing between the gripping and creasing rolls and to, retract the guide as the'envelope advances to de-' V fleet said envelope outwardly from said and means for actuating said guide to advance it; to a point adjacent the gripping- I roll to engage an envelope advancing betherewith, to

tween the gripping and creasing rolls and to retract the guide as the envelope advances to deflect said envelope outwardly from said creasing roll, said cam means being arranged to retract the guide at first slowly to carry the end of the envelope with it and envelope. v, p

5. In apparatus of" the-character described, in combination, a gripping roll, a

creasing roll and, a pressing roll cooperating with said gripping roll at' sp'aced points-on its periphery, the gripping and creasing rolls being arranged then more rapidly to, release the end of said i i to crease an envelope between the closing flap and body thereof and the gripping roll being arranged to grip the fold, and guiding means adjustable to guide the forward end of the envelope either between the gripping and pressing ranged to grip an envelope, toward its end,

a pressing roll cooperating therewith, at a point advanced peripherally around said griping roll from the position of gripping operation of said gripping roll and means for deflectng the forward end of the envelope away from the gripping roll to permit it to be turned end for end while gripped by the gripping roll and before passing under said pressing roll.

7. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a gripping roll, means for causing said gripping roll to grip an envelope on a transverse line between the body of the envelopeand a flap extending rearwardly therefrom, and meansto cause the envelope to be folded back against the flap whilestill gripped by said gripping roll,

8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a roll, a gum applying device carried thereby" comprising a radially movable gumming pad, and a rotatable cam associated with said radially movable guminer to move the same'radially, a rock shaft carried by said roll, a gear thereon meshing with peripheral gearteeth on said canna cam for controllingsaidrockshaft during the rotation of the roll, a second roll coopcrating with the firstroll, and creasing and folding devices carried by said rolls and cooperating to crease and folda blank.

9. Delivery mechanism for an envelope machine comprising in combination means to crease the envelope transversely to determine a'line of fold torthe closing flap and means to deliver said envelope with the closing flap extended or folded against the body of the envelope according as said means are set.

l0. Deliverymechanism toran envelope machine comprising in combination means to crease the envelopetransversely to determinealine of fold for the closing flap, means to grip the envelope at saidline ofhlold,

and means adjustable to deliver said envelope bottom first or to reverse theenvelope while still held by the gripping means and to deliver the envelope in reversed position with the flap closed.

11. In apparatus of the character de scribed, in combination, a gripping roll, creasing means cooperating with the gripping roll to determine a line of fold for the closing flap of an envelopeand means for causing the envelope to be delivered with the flap opener with the flap "folded according as said means are set.

12. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a gripping roll,

creasing means and pressing means coopermeans in reversed position with the closing flap folded.

13. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a gripping roll,

means for creasing the envelope transversely to determ ne a line of fold for the closing tlap, said gripping roll being arranged to grip said envelope on sand line of fold, and means for revers ngtheenvelope while held by the gripping roll and means for pressing thereversed envelope against the flap.

14.111 apparatus of the character described,i11 combination, a set of gripping and creasing rolls cooperating to fold the bottom flap of an envelope blank and a second set of gripping and creasing rolls cooperating to crease and told :the closing flap oi the envelope.

15. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a roll and means cooperating therewith for creasing an envelope blank to definea bottom flap, a second v roll and means cooperating therewith for creasing the blank to define a closing flap, one roll beingadjustable peripherally relative to the other to determine the length of the envelope. 1

16. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a roll and means cooperating therewith for creasing an envelope blank to define a bottom flap, a second roll and means cooperating therewith :lor creasing the blank to define a. closing flap, means for adjusting one roll peripherally relative to the other to make envelopes' of any length within the limits of themachine.

17. I11 a rotary envelope machine, in combination,a plurality of independent creas ing units operable to crease an envelope blank adjacent opposite ends, one of said creasing units being peripherally adjustable relative to the other to make provision for making envelopes of different lengths.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 9th day of May, 1923. JAY G. Sl/VAB, 

